Owl wonders why everyone else in the forest sleeps at night in this thoughtful, refreshing, and sweetly-illustrated story about how we learn to know ourselves.
A splendid read for emerging readers, animal lovers, and fans of classics such as Winnie the Pooh, this book works both for bedtime and for budding lovers of adventure stories! Perfect for ages 4-8.Owl wants to answer a question that’s making him feel mixed up: why can’t he fall asleep at night when all of the other animals in the forest are sleeping? Setting out on a quest to learn, Owl asks the squirrels, the rabbits, and even a bear! Alas, all the animals are asleep at night and too busy in the daytime to help Owl solve his problem. But Owl is determined to find out what’s up, and the answer might just surprise him . . .
On sale: July 29, 2025
Age: 4-8 years
Grade: Preschool - 3
Page count: 80 Pages
ISBN: 9781662640933
Born in Poland in 1979, Marzena Sowa arrived in France in 2001 to study at the Michel de Montaigne University in Bordeaux in order to complete her studies in modern literature. In 2004, she wrote the first volume of her internationally recognized comic autobiography
Marzi, which was nominated for both the Angoulême Comics Festival and an Eisner Award.
Joanna Lorho currently draws comics and illustrations after having made in-house animated films. She cultivates small musical projects on voice and piano, and has taught in art schools for around ten years. Originally from Brittany, France, she has lived and worked in Brussels for 20 years.
The Mixed-Up Owl is her first children’s book.
"An owl comes to embrace its nocturnal nature in this moody story that revolves around finding one’s place... Rendered in grayscale with pale spots of color, Lorho’s pencil and paint artwork depicts the protagonist’s plight sympathetically as he moves toward the calm that comes with self-awareness." —
Publishers Weekly
"A confused owl looks for answers in all the wrong places in this charming picture book about fitting in."—
Foreword Reviews
"Young readers likewise subject to untimely bouts of wakefulness will relate to poor, confused Owl and will perhaps take comfort from the way things eventually work out for him, thanks to a grumpy hedgehog... A soothing combination of timeless wisdom and atmospheric art."—
Kirkus Reviews
"So cute! I love the illustrations of Owl as he searches for the answer to his nocturnal problem! Really really cute read, and would be a fun way to share that not all animals are awake during the day with kids!"
—McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petosky, MI
"
The Mixed-Up Owl is so precious, full of adorable illustrations that help establish the whimsical environment... This story is so sweet all about discovering new things about yourself." —
BookPeople, Austin, Texas
